Cycling News Flash, April 16, 2008

Edited by Sue George

ProTour team pulls out of Tour de Georgia, replaced with Rock Racing?

By Mark Zalewski, North American Editor

Saunier Duval-Scott finds injuries hampering its ability to participate in the Tour de Georgia this year
Photo ©: Roberto Bettini

The Saunier Duval-Scott ProTour team announced Tuesday that due to a high number of injuries in recent weeks, the team will not attend the Tour de Georgia race in the US April 21-27. Instead, Rock Racing may be on the start line.

"It is very sad for us but unfortunately we won't be able to race at Tour of Georgia," said Saunier Duval-Scott's publicist Virginie Ducrot Geinoz.

"The problem is that we have too many riders injured from the recent classics and also a few sick riders. It was then a problem for our Director, Joxean Matxin Fernandez, to try to set up again the race calendar with all the Classics, the travels and other coming races with so many riders missing. He has decided this afternoon to cancel our participation at Tour of Georgia, which is ... sad for all the team and our sponsor, Scott. The riders really like to ride in the US"

Ironically, Saunier Duval-Scott's announcement came on the same day that Rock Racing and Tour de Georgia organizer Medalist Sports were in Georgia Superior court, with Rock Racking seeking an injunction against the race over a reported alleged verbal agreement the team had with Medalist over its entry.

Following the court hearing, Rock Racing initially confirmed to Cyclingnews that they were in the Tour de Georgia; however, the team's spokesperson Martine Charles later said its report was inaccurate and that the Rock Racing team is presently being considered to occupy the final spot in the Tour de Georgia, left vacant by Saunier Duval-Scott's withdrawal.

Stay tuned to Cyclingnews for more information regarding the Tour de Georgia.

[Last Updated: 4:45 pm US E.D.T.]

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